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Upside Down Apple Molasses Cake on a vintage plate

Upside Down Apple Molasses Cake

Tammy Circeo
If you could put a season into a cake, this Upside Down Apple Molasses Cake would epitomize Autumn! There's apples, of course, flavored with molasses, fresh ginger, cinnamon ... doesn't that make you want to put on a cozy sweater and go on a hay ride?
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8 slices

Ingredients
  

  • cups all-purpose flour I use a gluten-free 1:1 flour blend
  • teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ cup organic, unsulphured molasses
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons grated and peeled ginger
  • ½ cup sugar divided
  • cup sour cream
  • ¼ cup whole milk
  • 3-4 crisp apples, peeled, cored, and cut in quarters I like Pink Lady or Braeburn
  • Ice cream or whipped cream for serving

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Melt butter in a 10-inch cast-iron or other oven-proof skillet; set aside.
  • Whisk flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, and baking powder in a medium bowl.
  • Whisk molasses, egg, ginger, and ¼ cup sugar in a large bowl, whisk in sour cream, then milk. Gradually whisk in dry ingredients, then 3 Tablespoons of melted butter from the skillet. Set aside.
  • Add the remaining ¼ cup of sugar to the butter that's left in the skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until the sugar begins to caramelize, 2-3 minutes. Do not stir, but swirl the butter and sugar around in the pan to get it to melt and start turning color. Add the apples and turn to coat them with the sugar and butter. Cook on the rounded side for about 3 minutes adjusting the heat as needed to keep the sugar from getting too brown. Turn the apples over and cook the sides until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes longer. Space the apples evenly in the skillet and pour the cake batter over.
  • Put the skillet in the oven. Bake until a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs on it, 30-40 minutes.
  • Cool the cake in the skillet for 10 minutes, then carefully invert onto a plate. Serve the cake warm or at room temperature.
  • Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.
Keyword apple cake, upside down apple molasses cake, upside down cake
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